Apparatus for tipping metal bases with metal tips



Jan. 11, 1944. 0. JENDRESEN 2,339,079

APPARATUS FOR TIPPING METAL BASES WITH METAL TIPS FiledDec. 15', 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. I

L\ i OZZ O Jendresem Jan. 11, 1944. I O JENDREISEN 2,339,079

APPARATUS FOR TIPPING METAL BASES WITH METAL TIPS Filed Dec. 15, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet' 2 Fig 39 I I? 650 109 *!1 8 M6 g, 91ml: ""f g T 75 746 106 4 103 (115 101 "av 46 10 95 g 105106 107 v l I 6 66 i; j 65 1/0 5LT i a 60 64104 J I 7 96 19 '/Q1 65 g i 586x 6 61 6 4 49 M i?) 63 60 52 I z 594%: 35 I 1NVENTOR. BY 0220 ferzdresezy Jan. *11, 1944. Q JENDRESEN 2,339,079

APPARATUS FOR TIPPING METAL BASES W ITH METAL TIPS Filed Dec. 15, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet s '5 0 6 2 mm A w a wwflfl a a a WM k, m %=i:1 35awiijfi Z j M m P z 5/ w I 0/ m. 2 0., m i am a m 7; a 5 0M 5 Tl i J m {a 6 1 M J w m a 5 M w 2w 7 5 j I J x x 9 F5 a i fl m v fl I 2 a. a. w

Jan. 11', 1944. Q.JENDRE$EN I 2,339,079

APPARATUS FOR TIPPING'METAL BASES WITH METAL TIPS Filed Dec. 15, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 R05/Z70/V.

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Jan. 11, 1944. Q JENDRESEN r 2,339,079

APPARATUS FOR TIPPING METAL BASES WITH METAL TIPS Filed Dec. 15, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 and facilities are provided for selectively cutting any machine into and out of service without Patented Jan. 11, 1944 APPARATUS FOR TIPPING METAL BASES WITH METAL TIPS Otto Jendresen, Milton, Wia, assignor to The Parker Pen Company, Janesville, Wis., acorporation of Wisconsin Application December 15, 1941, Serial No. 423,057

Claims.

' The present invention relatesto apparatus for tipping metal bases with metal tips and, more particularly, to improvements in apparatus for welding precious metal tips to pen nibs.

It is an object of the present invention to provide improved apparatus of the character described, which is simple in arrangement, positive and reliable in operation, and is capable of .being operated at relatively high speeds to produce in production quantities, tipped bases which are uniformly free from structural defects.

It is another object of the invention to provide improved apparatus of the character described. wherein a plurality of tipping machines are operated in multiple and a minimum of auxiliaryequipment is required.

It is another object. of the invention to provide improved apparatus of the character described, which is so arranged that a single timing device, common to the tipping machines, is used for measuring the welding intervals for all of the machines.

In accordance with another object of the invention, provisions are made whereby a single welding current source,v having. a current rating equal only to the current requirements of a single tipping machine, and a single welding current circuit, are used to deliver welding current to all of the machines.

According to another object of the invention," provisions are made for staggering or maintain ing a predetermined phase displacement between the operating cycles of the different Inachines, whereby the movable base holders thereof are non-concurrently operated to occupy their respective tipping positions. 1

In accordance with still another object of the invention, the movable base holders of the machines are driven by a common driving means,

disturbing the operation of the other machines.

According to a still further object of the invention, provisions are made in the apparatus for preventing theoperation of the base holder of any machine from being arrested when it occupies its tipping position.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by 'referencejo the specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view illustrating the mecha cal arrangement of improved tipping apparatus characterized by the features of the invention briefly referred to above;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the tipping apparatus arrangement for driving the plurality of tipping machines shown in Fig. 1;

' Fig. 3 is a plan view of one of the tipping machines forming a part of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a side sectional view, taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, which illustrates the machine with the ni'o holder thereof in its tipping position;

Fig. 5 is a front view of the machine shown in Figs. 3 and 4;

Fig. 6 is a circuit diagram illustrating the manner in which the control equipment for the machines is electrically connected;

Figs. '7, 8, 9 and 10 are sideviews which, taken together, illustrate the relativepositions of the operating mechanisms -forf-the four machines.

shown in Fig. 1; when the driving equipment for these machines occupies a particular position; I

Fig. 11 is a side view, partially in section, illustrating the details of the clutch which is in-.

cluded in the driving connection between eachof the machines and the associated driving equipment;

Fig. 12 is a detail view illustrating the structural relationship between certain of the parts of the clutch shownin Fig. '11 when this clutch is 1 disengaged;

Fig. -13 is a view, partially insection, illustrating the clutch shown in Fig. 11 as viewed from the right end thereof;

Fig. 14 is a plan view of the clutch; I

Figs. 15 and 16 are end sectional views of the clutch mechanism as shown "in Fig. 11; and

Fig. 17 is a'top sectional view taken along the lines l'l-l1 of Fig. 11, illustrating the control mechanism of the clutch.

Referring now to the drawings,"and more parof identical construction and are arranged to be driven by a common driving motor 5 through driving connections which commonly include a speed reducing gearbox 6 and a line shaft l3.

More specifically, the motor 5 is mounted upon a platform 4 and is connected to impart rotary movement to the driving pulley 8 of the gearbox through a belt I. The gearbox is provided with driven sprocket 9 which is connected to rotate the shaft l3 througha connection comprising the chain I0 and a sprocket l5- which is rigidly mounted upon the shaft l3. The line shaft I3 is journaled in bearings which are carried by the 'five spaced-apart bearing supports l9a, I91), I90, I911 and I96, each support being mounted upon a suitable base and being disposed adjacent a drive', sprocket. The driving connections between the common shaft I3 shown in Fig. 1, and additionally discloses the and the four tipping machines A, B, C and D -tion of the machine.

respectively include clutch mechanisms I841, l8b, I80 and l8d which respectively comprise the drive sprockets la, l5b, I50 and l5d. These sprockets are chain-connected by means of the chains l1a, Ho, Ho and 11d to the driving sprockets [8a, lib, I80 and l8d, which are all rigidly mounted upon the shaft I3.

Each of the four illustrated tipping machines is of the improved form disclosed and claimed in applicants copending application Serial No. 386,095, filed March 31, 1941. Briefily considered, and as best shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 of the drawin s. each machine comprises a base 38 having around its outer edge a downwardly extending portion 81, the bottom surface of which is adapted to rest upon atable or bench, and the upper side of which is recessed to provide a trough 88 for catching waste material. The front side of the base portion 31 is interrupted, as shown in Fig. 3, to provide an opening into which a shallow drawer may be inserted, and the front of the top wall of the base 88 is cut back along this opening so that tipped nibs ejected from the nib holder of the machine may be dropped into the drawer.

The base 38 carries a stationary tip holder II and a frame 4| which supports the major portion of the moving parts of the machine. More specifically, this frame is provided with upwardly extending side members 42 and 43 and rearwardly extending shaft supporting members 44 and 45. The frame 4| also includes a top member 48 which extends between and is set back from the front wall of the side members 42 and 43.

In brief, the tip holder assembly comprises a base 41, a tip holding anvil 48, a pair of guide plates 49a, a. slide plate 41a, and a fiber cover plate 49. The lower edges of the base 41 are flared to mate with the tapered edges of ad- J'ustable locking plates 50 and 5| which are clamped to the base 38 by means of assembly screws 52. Preferably, the assembly plates 5! are eccentrically mounted in order to permit slight lateral adjustment of the tip holder assembly across the front of the base member 36. The cylindrical anvil 48 extends through an opening provided in the base holder II and registers with an enlarged opening in the machine base member 38, through which it may be removed. At its upper end the anvil 48 is provided with a recess 58 which constitutes atip receiving pocket. A chamber 54 is provided around the upper end of the anvil 48 into which hydrogen may be introduced through any suitable inlet conduit, not shown, during the opera- The slide plate 41a is secured in a shallow channel milled in the upper side of the base member 41, and the right end thereof abuts the side of the anvil 48. The upper surfaces of the plate 41a and the anvil 48 are maintained substanti'ally..flush so. that an unbroken surface is presented over which the pellets may he slid into the pocket 53. The base member II also supports a tip hopper 55, having a discharge opening 58 in the lowerwall thereof, and a tip feeding device which comprises a slide 51 and an actuating plunger 58. More specifically, a centrally disposed longitudinally extending channel is provided in the upper wall of the base member 41 which receives the slide 51. This member is also provided with a rearwardly extending portion 58 which is channeled to receive the ope i P 8 the two elements 51 and 59 being ur h r by means of a pin 88. In order to convey tips from the discharge opening 55 of the hopper 55 to the receiving pocket 53 of the anvil 48, the slide 51 is provided with a conveying pocket 8| which alternately registers with the opening 56 and the pocket 53 during the operation of the machine. The two elements 51 and 58 of the feed mechanism are held in assembled relationship by means of the guide plates 49a which are secured to the base 41 by assembly screws. The cover plate 49 and the guide plates 49a are provided with oppositely disposed inwardly tapered edges which coact with the flared bottom of the hopper 55 to provide a guideway for lateral movement of the hopper and to provide a means for securing the hopper to the top of, the base 41. This plate is also provided with a flared opening 63 which registers with the upper end of the anvil 48 and through which the point of a nib held by the nib holder 12 may be moved to engage a tip held by the tip receiving pocket 53. Preferably, the cover plate 49 is formed of insulating material to prevent possible shocks to the operator handling the machine, and the flared opening through this plate is of such size as to concentrate the hydrogen stream in the welding zone.

As best shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the frame 4| of the machine supports, for reciprocating movement in a vertical direction, a carriage 84 upon which the nib holder l2 of the machine is rotatably mounted. More specifically, the nib holder I2 is slidably supported in the barrel 85 of a retaining head 66 which is mounted for pivotal movement with a spindle 81 between the side flanges 88a and 88b of the carriage member 88. This carriage member is mounted upon a slide 58 by means of assembly screws, not shown, and is suitably insulated therefrom. The edges of the slide 69 are flared to form guides which mate with tapered guideways 14a and 14b milled in the oppositely disposed inner walls of the frame members 42 and 43, and the inner wall thereof is channeled to receive a rack 18 which is mounted upon the slide 69 by means of assembly screws 18. From the above explanation it will be understood that the carriage member 88 and the head 88 are mounted for reciprocating movement with the slide 89 and are insulated from the frame and base by suitable insulating means, not shown.

For the -purpose of imparting reciprocating movement to the carriage 84, an operating mechanism is provided which includes a drive shaft [4, a cam 18 mounted for clockwise rotation with the shaft l4, and a reciprocating lever 19. The

lever 19 is mounted for rotation about a stub shaft 88, the two ends of which are supported in openings provided in the rearwardly extending frame members 44 and 45. These frame members are also provided with bearings 8| and .82 in which the shaft l4 lsjoumaled.

a pin 88, and the other end of which extends between the guide plates 49a and the forked ends of the operating plunger 58. The latter end of the connection 81 is connected to the op extends through registering openings provided in the forked ends of the plunger 58 and the lower end of the connection 81.

' The right end of tho lever 19 is in the form of a gear sector 90 having teeth which mesh with the teeth of the rack 16 so that up and down reciprocating movement is imparted to the carriage 64 as the lever 19 is rocked about the shaft 80 by the cam 18. In order to rotate the head 66 relative to the carriage 64 so that the nib holder I2 is tilted outward as it is operated from its tipping position to its loading position, the head 66 is provided with an arm 9| which carries a roller 92 arranged-to coact with a spring cushioned-stop assembly 93.. More specifically, the

arm 9| is mounted upon the head 66 by means of assembly screws 94, and the roller 92 is rotatable with a pin 95 having ends journaled in the forked ends of the arm 9|. The cushioned stop assembly 93 is supported by the cross member 46 of the frame 4|. Briefly described, this as-- sembly comprises an elongated screw 96 having its head secured between a bearing plate 91 and an assembly plate 98 and its shank extending through an enlarged opening drilled vertically through the cross member 46, and a registering opening provided in a top assembly plate 99. The roller bearing plate 91 is formed of fiber or other insulating material in order to insulate'the head 66 and the holder I2 from the frame 4|. top plate 99 is secured to the cross member 46 by means of assembly screws |00.' In orderto bias the bearing plate 91 toward its downward position, a spiral spring MI is provided which is telescoped over the screw 96 and lies within the side walls of a sleeve I02. One endof the biasby means of assembly screws III.

tion. This assembly comprises a U-shaped bracket IIO having legs which straddle the head 60 and are secured to the carriage member 68 The base of this U-shaped member 0 is angularly disposed to lie in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the holder when the holder occupies its loading position, and is provided with a centrally disposed tapped opening which is adapted to receive the threaded shank of an adjustable micrometer screw H2 of the head 66 relative to the carriage member 68 during downward movement of the carriage 64, an elastic band H3 is provided which encircles the shank of the micrometer screw H2 and the shank of a screw- 4 which is threaded into the collar I06.

The machine also includes a combination switch actuating and stop assembly I|5 which is fixedly mounted upon the upper end of the slide 69 in any suitable manner. This assembly includes a spacing block H6 and a laterally extending arm H8. The arm H8 is provided with spaced-apart drill holes which are tapped to receive a pair of adjustable micrometer screws H9 and I20. The micrometer screw II9 coacts with'the operating plunger of the switch 24 to operate this switch between its open and closed The ing spring IOI abuts the under side of the assem- I bly plate 99 and the opposite end thereof abuts the flanged end of the sleeve I02. This sleeve is journaled for sliding movement in the opening provided in'the cross member 46..- For the purpose of limiting the downward movement of the bearing plate 98, stop nuts I03 are provided which are adjustable along the threaded shank of the screw 98 to any desired position.

Clockwise rotation of the head 6.6 relative to the carriage member 68 during movement of the nib holder I2 from its loading position to its tipping position, is limited by an adjustable stop screw I04 which is threaded into a tapped drill hole I05 provided in the carriage member 68. Downward movement of the nib holder I2 through the barrel of the retaining head 66, after the holder is=1owered--to bring-the point of a nib held thereby into engagement with a tip held by the tip holder II and during a welding operation, is limited through the provision of a stop assembly which comprises a collar I06 suitably mountedupon the upper end of the holder I2 and having threaded therethrough an adjustable micrometer screw I01, the lower end of which bears against the upper surface of the head 66. The collar I00 also carries a copper pin I08, the lower end of which extends within and is displaced from the walls of a mercury receiving cup I09; The purpose of providing the mercury filled cup I09 and the contacting pin I08 is to ensure an unbroken electrical connection between the nib holder I2 and the head 86, thereby to prevent sparking between the engaged surfaces of these two elements. An additional stop assembly is provided for operating the nib holder I2 automatically to eject a held therein as the nib holder is moved to its loading posicircuit positions as reciprocating movement is imparted to the carriage 64. The micrometer screw I20, on the other hand, is arranged to engage the upper surface of the frame 4| and serves to determine the position in which the carriage 64 is brought to rest during its downward move- 35' m'ent.

As best shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the nib holder I2 comprises a sleeve |2I which houses a stationary jaw I22 and a movable jaw I23.

This sleeve is telescoped within the barrel 65 of the head 66 and is freely slidable therethrough. More specifically, the movable jaw I23 is pivotally mounted on the stationary jaw I 22 by means of a pivot pin I30, and the tail end of the movable jaw is arranged 'to be engaged by the end of the micrometer screw II2 through openings provided in the head 66 and the sleeve I2I each time the nib holder is operated into its loading position. The movable Jaw I23 is normally spring-biased to engage the stationary jaw I22 and a nib ejector is provided between these two jaws for ejecting nibs held therebetween. This ejector is actuated by a camming connection which is operated incident to the movement of the jaw I23 to its open position.

As best shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, the

electrical control equipment for the four machines shown in Figs. 1, '7, 8, 9 and 10 of the drawings, comprises a welding current generator 20, which is arranged to deliver current to the parallel-connected nib and tip holders of the four machines A, B, C and D over a circuit which includes the contacts 2| of a'contactor type of relay 22, and the welding circuit conductors 2 and 3. More specifically, welding current is passed over this circuit each time the nib holder tripped to energize the winding of the contactor 22 for a measured time interval in response to In order to ensure positive rotation operation of any one of the micrometer switches 24a, 24b, 24c and 20d. The timing apparatus 3| may, if desired, comprise a conventional alternating current cycle counter of the thermionic type, which is so arranged that when its trip circuit is closed, it functions to energize the wind ing of the relay 22 for a given time interval, and to then deenergize this relay regardless of the opened or closed circuit condition of its trip circuit. Operating current for the timing apparatus 3| and for the winding of the contactor 22 is supplied from a commercial alternating current source schematically indicated by the bracketed terminals shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings.

In considering the operation of the nib tipping machine, briefly described above, it is pointed out that the hopper 55 is first filled with a suitable tipping material. This material is preferably sintered osmiridium which is crushed and compressed into pellets of such size that each pellet may be used for tipping one pen nib. If desired, the nib holder I2 may be loaded before operation of the machine is initiated. To this end the operator inserts the base of a nib between the jaws I22 and I23 of the nib holder. Before the operation of the apparatus is started the hydrogen inlet valve, not shown, is operated to pass hydrogen into the chamber 54 of the tip holder II. The hydrogen, which envelops the engaged tip and nib during each welding operation, precludes the formation of oxidation products which may lead to a defective union between the engaged tip and nib. Assuming that the illustrated tipping machine is the first machine A of. the battery of machines shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, that the motor is operating to rotate the shaft I3 and that the clutch I8 is engaged, rotary movement is imparted to the cam I8 through the belt I, the gearbox 6, the chain I0, the shaft I3, the sprocket Ilia, the chain IIa, the sprocket I5a, the clutch I8a and the shaft I4. The direction of movement of this driving connection is such that the cam 18 is rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

Assuming that the parts of the illustrated tipping machine occupy a position such that the nib holder I2 is in its raised or loading position at the time the operation of the machine is initiated, the cam roller 85 first traverses the surface of the operating sector be of the cam, which sector is of decreasing radius. During such relative movement between the cam I8 and the roller 05 the carriage 64 is, by the gravitational force exerted thereon, moved from its loading position to its tipping position as illustrated in Fig. 4

of the drawings. This downward movement of the carriage 64 and the head 66 carried thereby serves to rotate the lever I9 in a clockwisedirection through the meshing engagement of the gear sector 90 with the rack I6. The extent to which the lever I9 is rocked in a clockwise direction is, of course, limited by the engagement of the roller 85 with the surface of the cam sec-' tor b-e. As the initial downward movement of the carriage 64 proceeds, the elastic band II3, acting in conjunction with the gravitational pull exerted on the eccentrically mounted head 66, serves to rotate the head and the nib holder I2 in a clockwise direction relative to the carriage 64. During this rotation and translation of the head 66 and the nib holder I2, the roller 92 carried by the arm 9| engages the bearing'plate 91 but the spring IN is of sufficient stiffness to maintain the stop assembly in its illustrated lowcred position. It will be noted that the lower end of the nib holder I2 is caused to follow a curvilinear path so long as the roller 92 carried by the arm BI engages the bearing plate 91. During continued downward movement of the carriage 64 the lower end of the barrel 65 there'- of engages the stop screw I04 to prevent further rotation of the head 66 relative to the carriage member 68. It will be noted that the primary section ba of the cam operating or lowering sector b'e is of slowly decreasing radius. Accordingly, the initial downward movement of the carriage 64 is relatively slow and the head 66 is rotated into engagement with the stop screw I04 at a slow speed which prevents the head from bouncing or oscillating during continued downward movement thereof. The continued downward movement of the carriage occurs while the surface of the cam sector a--e is traversing the roller 85. After the head 66 and the stop screw I04 are brought into engagement, the lower end of thenib holder I2 is moved in an exact straight line until the tipping position thereof is reached. In this regard it will be understood that by adjusting the stop screw I04 the nib holder I2 may accurately be positioned to bring the point of a nib carried thereby squarely into engagement with a. tip held in the receiving pocket 53 of the tip holder II. stop screw I04 is engaged by the barrel 65 of the head 66, and during continued downward movement of the carriage 64, the roller 92 is moved away from the bearing plate 91..

When the cam I8 is rotated so that the point e along the surface thereof engages the roller 85, the nib holder I2 occupies its tipping position. In this regard it is pointed out that during the final downward movement of the carriage 68 the point of the nib held between the jaws of the nib holder I2 engages the tip deposited in the receiving pocket 53 of the tip holder II. Thereafter, and as the'head 60 continues to move downwardly, the nib base is thrust upward within the jaws of the holder I2 thereof until the nib base engages a stop provided within the nib holder assembly. During further downward movement of the head 66, the holder assembly comprising the two jaws I22 and I23 is held stationary with the end of the nib base engaging the tip, and the sleeve I2I is telescoped downward over the jaws I22 and I23 against the force exerted thereon by the elastic band H3, whereby the end of the stop screw I01 is disengaged from the upper surface of the head 66. Also incident to the final downward movement of the carriage 64, the end of the micrometer screw H9 engages the operating plunger of the switch 24 so that the contacts 23 thereof are moved into engagement. Thereafter the end of the stop screw I20 engages the upper surface of the frame member 43 to arrest the downward movement of the carriage 64.

Following the operations just described, and during the movement of the cam wherein the surface ofthe tipping sector ed thereof, of constant radius, engages the roller 85, no further movement of the carriage 64 occurs. The period required for such movement of the cam 78 includes a time interval during which the tip deposited in the receiving pocket 53 of the tip holder II is welded to the nib engaged thereby and held between the jaws of the nib holder I2. In

It will also be noted that after the A 2,339,079 tions energize the operating winding of thehence assume a fluid state. When the restraining force exerted on the nib holder assembly is' thus removed, the elastic band I I3, coacting with the gravitational force exerted on the nib holder assembly, pulls this assembly downward until the lower end of the stop screw I01 engages the u per surface of the head 65. The extent of this movement is exceedingly small and the movement is only permitted to ensure a perfect bond between the engagedtip and nib. I

At the end of the time interval measured by operation of the timing apparatus 3|, the contactor 22 is deenergized and opens its'contacts H to interrupt the welding circuit, whereby the flow of current through the engaged nib and tip is arrested. Shortly after the welding circuit is opened by the contactor 22, and during continued rotation of the cam 18, the roller 85 engages the surface of the retracting sector d-c of the cam. This surface .is of rapidly increasing r ading, and, accordingly, the lever I9 is rocked in ai" counterclockwise-direction to raise the carriage 64. During the initial upward movement of the carriage 64 to move th tipped nib out of engagementwith the tip holder II, the head 66 retains its lowered position. As the cam 18 continues to rotate, the carriage 64 is elevated to a position such that the roller 92 engages the hearing plate 91 ofthe stop assembly 93. During the continued upward movement of the carriag 64, vertical movement of the roller 92 is arrested so that the head 66 is rotated in a counterclockwise .direction relative to the carriage member 68.

Thus, during the final portion of the period when the surface of the cam sector d c traverses the roller 85 the head 66 is rocked to bring the nib holder l2 back to its loading position. Incident to the final movement of the head 66 the tail end of the movable jaw I23 engages the end of the stop v screw I I2 and is operated to disengage the tipped nib. This relative movement between the jaws. I22-and I23 causes the ejector of the nib holder assembly to eject the tipped nib from'the holder.

' As the cam I8 continues to rotate, the surface of the loading sector cb thereof, which is of constant radius, traverses the cam roller 85. During such rotation of the cam the carriage remains in its raised position and the nib holder I2 is held in its loading position. It will be noted that the extent ofthe sector -1; of the cam I8 deterholder I2 is retained in its loading position for' an adequate time interval to permit easy insertion of a pen nib between the jaws thereof. From this point on the operations just described are cyclically repeated during each revolution of the cam 18. h

It is pointed out above that the tip pellets are automatically fed to the tip receiving pocket 53 of the tip holder II from the hopper '55 in timed relationship with the movement of the nib holder I2. In this regard it will be noted that during the portion of each revolution of the cam 18 when the surface of theoperating sector b-e of th cam traverses the roller'85 to permit the lever I9 to be rocked in a clockwise direction, the connection '81 pulls the operating plunger 58 of the tip feeding device to the left, so that the slide 51 is withdrawn from its tip discharge position. The extent of this movement is such that the conveying pocket 6| of the slide 51 is moved into registry with the discharge opening 56 of the hopper 55 coincident with the movement of the. cam I8 to bring the surface point e thereof into engagement with the cam roller 85. Thus, the conveying pocket 6| is loaded with a pellet through the opening 56 in the baseof the hopper 55 during the portion of the cam movement when the surface of the sector e--d engages the roller 85. During continued movement of the cam 18, and while the surface of the retracting sector d-c of the cam engages the roller 85. the lever I9 is rocked in a counter-clockwise direction to move the nib 25 holder I2 from its tipping position to its load n position, in the manner explained above. cident to this movement, the lever I9, actin through the connection 81, operates the plunger 58 and connected slide 51 to the right, so that the discharge opening 56 of the hopper 55 is closed. The pellet disposed in the conveying pocket 6| of the slide 51 is slid over the upper surface of the base 51 until it is brought into registry with'the tip receiving pocket 53 of the anvil 48. -ThiS occurs slightly before the surface point e of the cam 18 is moved to engage the roller 85, i. e., shortly before the nib holder I2 ismoved to its loading position. When these two pockets are brought into registry the pellet disposed in the 40 conveying pocket 6I is discharged by gravity into the pocket 53 of the anvil 43. In this regard it is. pointed out that the size of th anvil pocket 53 is preferably such that it will not accommodate more than one tip pellet. Accordingly, if the pocket 53 is already loaded, the pellet held in the co veying pocket BI is retained therein during cor itlnued operation of the machine until the deposited pellet is used in tipping a nib. During continued rotation of the cam 18 pellets are automatically fed one by one to the receiving pocket 53 of the anvil 48, In a manner clearly apparent from the above explanation. From' this explanation it will be noted that the movement ofthe slide 51 is synchronized with the movement of the nib hplder. I2 so that the-receiving pocket 53. is loaded while the nib holder I2 occupies its loading position, andthe end/of the slide 51 is retracted from its tip loading position as the nib holder. I2 is brought downward into its tipping position. Moneover. this synchronous relationship between the movement of the nib holder I2 and the loading slide 51' is not disturbed by changes in the operating speed of the machine, as will be apparent from a consideration of the movements of the two elements.

From a consideration of the control circuit as illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings, it will be understood that the output current rating of the generator 20 is determined by the manner in which the four machines A, B, C and D are operated. If the operating cycles of these machines are synchronized so that the nib holders thereof. are concurrently operated to their respective mechanical linkages utilized to correlate thetipping positions and the welding intervals overlap, a welding generator 20 having a current rating substantially four times that required for any one of the machines must be provided. Under these circumstances it would also be desirable, if not necessary, to provide four sets of timing apparatus for separately controlling the welding intervals of each machine, which sets of timing apparatus would be independently controlled by the four micrometer switches 24a, 24b, 24c and 24d. In order to avoid such unnecessary duplication of the timing apparatus and to avoid using a welding generator having an unnecessarily large current rating, the clutches I8, which are provided in the driving connections between the four machines A, B, C and D and the shaft I3, are so constructed and arranged that the operating cycles of the four machines are staggered. More specifically, the operating cycles of the four machines are so displaced in phase that, for a particular angular position of the shaft I3, the nib holder of the machine A I occupies its loading position as illustrated in Fig. 7 of the drawings, the nib holder of the machine B occupies the partially lowered position illustrated in Fig. 8 of the drawings, -the nib holder of the machine C occupies its tipping position as illustrated in Fig. 9 of the drawings, and thenib holder of the machine D occupies its halfraised position as illustrated in Fig. 10 of the drawings. correspondingly different positions of the nib holders of the four machines are maintained for any other angular position of the drive shaft I3. This is accomplished by utilizing the positive chain and sprocket connections between the common drive shaft I3 and each of the clutches I 5, and by using clutches of improved arrangement which are of the positive or positional'clutching type.

The structure and arrangement of the four spring I52 at any time when the'left end of the bolt I49 registers with this slot and the bolt is not restrained in its retracted or declutched position.

For the purpose of selectively operating the clutch bolt I49 between its clutching and retracted positions, a cam plunger I53 is provided which is arranged to be reciprocated vertically in. an opening provided in the support I 40. More specifically, this plunger is provided with a head I15 which is of rectangular cross section and lies within a channel I 11 milled transversely through the support I40, and with a shank I16 which extends into an opening I18 drilled downward from the bottom of the channel I11 through the support I40. The head I15 is provided with an upper camming finger I55 which, when the plunger occupies its raised position, is adapted to extend into an annular recess I56 extending radially inward from the outer surface of the driven member I48, so that it may engage the cam finger clutches is identical and will best be understood from a consideration of the clutch I8, the details of which are illustrated in Figs. 11 to 17, inclusive, of the drawings. In brief this clutch comprises a stepped support I40 which is suitably mounted upon the base member 36 of the machine in the manner shown in Figs. 3 and 5 of the drawings. This support is provided with an upper surface I from which extends a bracket portion I42 having a sleeve bearing member I43 extending therethrough. This bearing journals one end of a shaft I44, the other end of which is rigidly connected to the shaft I4 of the tipping machine, shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 of the drawings. ends of the two shafts I44 and I4 is used for this purpose. Set screws I46 and I41 are threaded through the collar I in order rigidly to secure this collar to the ends of the shafts I4 and I44, respectively. By using this type of rigid connection between the two shafts, the bearing supports for the shaft I4 also function as bearing supports for the otherwise unsupported end of the shaft I44. The shaft I44 has rigidly mounted thereon a driven member I48 which is arranged to be clutched and declutched from the driving sprocket I5 by means of a clutch bolt I49. More specifically, the driving sprocket I5 is rigidly secured to a friction plate I50, and the unit thus formed is rotatably mounted upon the shaft I44 with the friction face of the plate I50 loosely engaging an associated friction face of the driven member I48; The plate I50 is provided with a slot I5I extending radially inward from the circumferential surface thereof, into which the clutch bolt I49 is adapted to be urged by a coil A collar I45 which receives the adjacent I51 of the clutch bolt I49. A coil spring I56 is provided for biasing the plunger I53 toward its raised position whereinthe camming finger I 55 thereof is positioned within the recess I56 in the path of movement of the cam finger I51. One end of this coil spring extends into a hole drilled into the lower end of the plunger shank I16 and the other end thereof rests upon the upper surface of the base member 36.

For the purpose of determining the raised position of the plunger'l53 and the additional purpose of retracting this plunger so that the cam finger I55 thereof is out of the path of movement of the clutch bolt I49, the mechanism is equipped with an operating plunger I59 which is slidably mounted on the support I40 for movement along a line normal to the axis of the shaft I44. More specifically, this operating plunger is of rectangular cross-section and is disposed in a channel I60 milled transversely through the support I40. A flat cam plate I19 is mounted, by means of assembly screws I80, in a recess cut in the upper surface of the plunger I 59. This plate extends laterally from the body of the plunger I59 and is cut away at I6I to provide a cammin surface I62 which is arranged to coact with a camming surface I64 formed by appropriately cutting away the left side of the cam plunger I53. These surfaces are so arranged that as the operating plunger I59 is reciprocated'between its two positions, the cam plunger I53 is operated between its retracted and non-retracted positions. For the purpose of limiting the longitudinal movement of'the operating plunger I59; pins I65 and I66 are driven through openings provided therein on either side of the support I40. This prevents the operating plunger I59 from being pulled out of the mechanism when it is being operated to retract the cam plunger I53, and from being pushed through the mechanism during operation thereof to release the cam plunger I53. From a consideration of Fig. 15 of the drawings it will be noted that the-upper surface of the cut away portion of the cam plunger I53 not only includes the camming surface I64, but also includes a flat upper surface which is adapted to engage the flat under surface of the laterally extending finger I6I when the cam plunger I53 is retracted. Thus the vertical position of the plunger I53 is at all times determined by the position of the operating plunger I59. The mounting assembly for the two plungers I53 and I59 comprises a fiat plate I66 which is positioned in a transversely extending recess provided in the 2,339,079 upper surface I of the support I40." This plate,

which is secured in position by means of assembly screws I89 threaded into the support I40, is

coextensive with and overlies the upper surface of the laterally extending plate. I19 to provide an extended bearing surface forreceiving the upward thrust exerted on the plate I19 by the bias-' ing spring I58. By virtue of this arrangement the operating plunger I59 is prevented from binding in the channel I98 of the support I40.

As best illustrated in Figs. 11, 13 and 14 of the drawings, the assembly for mounting the clutch bolt I49 and the coil spring I52 on the driven member I48 comprises .a side plate I and two top plates HI and ,I12. More specifically, this assembly is formed by cutting away'the outer surface of the member I48 different radial depths inorder to provide mounted. The right end surface of the driven member I48 is also cut away to provide a recess for receiving the side plate I10. member is milledalong its longitudinal axis to a radial depth greater than the radial depth of the recess I56 in order to provide a channel therein for receiving the clutch bolt I49. The two cover plates HI and I12 are mounted upon the at surfaces upon which thetwo cover plates I1I and I12 may be Further, this fiat surfaces'of the'driven member I48 to maintain the side plate I10, the coil spring I52, and

the" clutch bolt I49 in assembled relation by means of assembly screws I13 and I14.

In considering the operation of the clutch, it may be assumed that the operating plunger I59 occupies its pulled. out position wherein the flat under surface of the cam plate I19 engages the fiat upper surface of the plunger head I15 to maintain the plunger I53 in its retracted position as shown in Fig. 15 of the drawings. It may further be assumed that the clutch bolt I49 occupies its extended position wherein it is positioned within the slot I5I to provide a rigid drive connection between the sprocket I5 and the shaft I 44 through the driven member I40? With the parts of the mechanism occupying the indicated positions, the camming finger I55 of the plunger I53 is disposed out of the path of movement of the camming surface I51 of the clutch bolt I49. Accordingly, the clutch bolt remains in its extended position to provide a driving connection between the sprocket I5 and the shaft I44 so long as the positionof the two .plungers I59 and I53 is not altered. 1

In order'to declutch the shaft I44 from the sprocket I5 the plunger I59 is pushed, backward through the recess I80 from the position shown in Fig. 15 of the drawings. Incident to this movement of the plunger I59, the. camming surface I82 is slid backward over the camming surface I 04' of the plunger head I15, permitting the plunger I53 to be elevated vertically under the influence of the coil spring I58 until the cam finger I55 thereof is,pos itioned to engage the camming surface I51 of the clutch bolt' I49. After the operating plunger I59 has been pushed back to' its retracted position the relative positions of this plunger and the cam plunger I53 are as illustrated in Fig. 16 of the drawings. When the cam finger I55, is moved into the path of movement of the clutch bolt I 49 and the cammin surfaces of these two elements are brought into engagement through continued rotation of the sprocket I5,? the clutch bolt I49 is moved to the right from thejposition illustrated in Fig. 11 of the drawings, until it is withdrawn from the slot I5I to occupy the position shown in Fig. 12 of the drawings. when thebolt I49 is fully withdrawn from the slot I5I the sprocket I5 is completely declutched from the shaft I44 so that further rotation thereof may continue without'imparting rotary movement to the driven member I48 and. the shaft I44.

In order. to again clutch the shaft I44 to the sprocket I5, the operating plunger I59 is pulled from the position shown in Fig. 16 of the drawings to the position shown in Fig. 15 of the drawings. Incident to this movement of the plunger I59, the camming surface I62 of the plate I19 coacts with the camming surface I 64 of the plunger head I15 to move the plunger I53 against the biasing force of the spring I58 until it occupies its retracted position wherein the cam finger I55 is disengaged from the camming surface I51 of the clutch bolt 149. When thus released, the left end of the 20 bolt I49, as viewed in Fig. 11 of the drawings, is pressed against the bearing surface of the plate I50 by the spring I52, As the sprocket I5 continues to rotate, the slot I5I is brought into registry with the end of the bolt I49 and this bolt is. shot into the slot under the influence of the spring I52. Thus a driving connection is again established between the sprocket I5 and the shaft I44.

From the above explanation with reference to the details of the clutch mechanism as illustrated in Figs; 11 to 17, inclusive, of the drawings, it will be understood that by selectively operating the plungers I59a, I59b, I590 and I59d of the clutch mechanisms I8a, I8b, I80 and I8di, respectively, an operator of the illustrated tipping apparatus may selectively cut any one of the tipping machines A, B, C and D into and out of service. In

- this regard it will be understood that when the operating plunger I59 of any one of the four clutches is operated to declutch the associated tipping machine from the drive shaft I3, the shaft I44 of the clutch mechanism will be stopped in-a position which is determined by the engagement of the camming surfaces I51 and- I55 thereof. This angular position of the shaft I44 .at which movement of the shaft is arrested, determines the position in which the associated nib holder is held after the movement thereof'is stopped. The arrangement of the four clutch mechanisms and the shafts I4 to which they are connectedis such that each time one of the machines is. cut out of service, movement of the tip holder thereof is arrested with the tip holder occupying its loading position. This is accomplished by suitably adjusting the relative angular positions of the shafts I44 and I4 so that enmined point along the sector b-c of the cam 18. This point is the same for all four of the machines and can readily be attained by suitably adjusting the;,clu-tch shafts I44 relative to the tipping maehineshafts I4so that they bear the same angular relationship with respect to each other. 5

The purpose of the above-described arrangement, whereby the operation of any one of the tipping machines can only be arrestedwhen the nib holder thereof occupies its loading position, is to prevent the welding current source 20 from being short-circuited through any one of the machines. In this regard it will be noted that if operation of any one or the machines is arrested with the nib holder of the machine occupying its tipping position, a connection may easily be established through engagement of the nib and tip holders of the machine, thereby to provide an unbroken low resistance path shunting the welding circuit conductors 2 and 3. Moreover, with the nib holder of the machine in its tipping position, the contacts 23 of the micrometer switch 24 provided therein would interfere with the operation of the timing apparatus 3| common to the four machines.

As pointed out previously, another feature of the invention relates tothe arrangement of the equipment whereby the operating cycles of the four tipping machines are staggered. More specifically, a 90 phase displacement is maintained between the operating cycles of each adjacent pair of machines. To this end, the slot i5|b as provided in the clutch plate l50b of the clutch l8b trails by 90, the slot l5la as provided in the clutch plate I500, of the clutch l8a. Similarly, the slot l5lc as provided in the clutch plate (500, lags the slot Hill) of the clutch plate l 50b by 90. Finally, the slot l5ld provided in the clutch plate I50d trails the slot l5lc of the clutch plate I500 by 90. By virtue of this arrangement, and the positive drive connection between the shaft I 3 and each of the four drive sprockets I5a, I51), I50 and I511, the cams 18a, 18b, 18c and 18d are angularly displaced in steps of 90. Accordingly when all four of the machines are in service, the operating cycles thereof are so staggered that the nib holders of the four machines are successively operated into their respective tipping and loading positions and no two of the nib holders ever concurrently occupy their tipping positions. Moreover, this arrangement positively precludes a machine which has been removed from service from being cut back into service except at the exact instant when the desired phase relationship between the operating cycle thereof and the operating cycles of the other three machines is reestablished. In this'regard it will be apparent from the above explanation that the only point at which the sprocket l5 can be clutched to the driven member 8 to provide a driving connection between the two shafts l3 and I, is that point at which the slot I5! is brought into registry with the end of the clutch bolt 9. It will be understood, therefore, that since the slots l5la, I5Ib. l5lc and l5ld are angularly 90 apart, the desired phase relationship between the operating cycles of the" machines cannot be disturbed as the machines are cut into and out of service.

The purpose of staggering the operating cycles of the four machines is to permit a. single set of timing equipment-3| and' a single welding -current source 20, of low current rating, to be used. In this regard it will be understood that when the 90 phase displacement between the operating cycles of the four machines is maintained, the nib holders of the four machines are successively operated to their respective tipping positions, and incident thereto the micrometer switches 24 are successively operated to trip the timing apparatus 3|. Each time the trip circuit of this apparatus is closed, the contactor 22 is operated for a measured time interval to pass current through the engaged nib and tip of the machine in which the operated micrometer switch r means *included"'in said clutches 24 is included, all in the manner previously explained.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein which are within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In apparatus for tipping metal bases with metal tips, a plurality of tipping machines each including a tip holder and a-base holder which is cyclically operative between a loading position and a tipping position wherein a base held thereby is positioned to engage a tip held by the associated tip holder, driving means common to said machines, driving connections between said base holders and said driving means, and means included in said driving connections for selectively cutting any one of said machines out of service without disturbing the operation of the other machines.

2. In apparatus for tipping metal bases with metal tips, a plurality oftipping machines each including a tip holder and a base holder which is cyclically operative between a loading position and a tipping position wherein a base held thereby is positioned to engage a tip held by the associated tip holder, driving means common to said machines, driving connections between said base holders and said driving means, clutches included in said driving connections for selectively cutting said machines into and out of service, and means included in said clutches for providing a phase displacement between the operating cycles of said base holders.

3. In apparatus for tipping metal bases with metal tips, a plurality of tipping machines each including a tip holder and a base holder which is cyclically operative between a loading position and a tipping position wherein a base held thereby is positioned to engage a tip held by the associated tip holder, driving means common to said machines, driving connections between said base holders and said driving means, clutches included in said driving connections for selectively cutting said machines into and out of service,

and means included 'in said clutches for maintaining a phase difierence between the operating cycles of said base holders such that said base holders nonconcurrently occupy their tipping positions.

4. In apparatus for tipping metal bases with metal tips, a plurality of tipping machines each including a tip holder and a base holder which is cyclically operative between a loading position and a tipping position wherein a base held thereby is positioned to engage a tip held by the associated tip holder, driving means common to said machines, driving connections between said base holders and said driving means, clutches included in said driving connections for selectively arresting the operation of said base holders, and for preventing the operation of any base holder from being arrested while it occupies its tipping position.

5. In apparatus for tipping metal bases with metal tips, a plurality of tip holders, base holders individual to said tip holders and each operative between a tipping position and a loading position wherein a base held thereby is positioned to engage a tip held by the associated tip holder, means for driving said base holders,'means for selectively arresting the operation or said base holders, and means for preventing the operation of any base holder from being arrested while it occupies its tippin position.

6. In apparatus for tipping metal bases with metal tips, a plurality of tip holders, baseholders individual to said tip holders and each cyclically operative between a loading position and a tipping position wherein a base held thereby is positioned to engage a tip heldby the associated tip holder, means for successively operating said base holders into their tipping positions, a source of welding current common to said holders, and means comprising a timing device which is commonly associated with said holders and is successively controlled in accordance with the op: eration of the dillerent base holders for passing current from said source through the engaged bases and tips as said base holders are successively operated to their tipping positions.

7. In apparatus for tipping metal bases with metal tips, a plurality of tip holders, base holders individual to said tip holders and each cyclically operative between a loading position and a tipping position wherein a base held thereby is positioned to engage a tip held by the associated tip holder, means for successively operating said base holders into their tipping positions, a source of welding current common to said holders, and means comprising a timing device which is common to said holders and is actuated each time one of said base holders is moved into its tipping position for passing current from said source through each engaged tip and base as said base holders successively occupy their tipping positions.

8. In apparatus for tipping metal bases with metal tips, a plurality of tip holders, cyclically operative means for successively moving bases into engagement with tips held by said tip holders, a welding circuit common to said holders and operative to pass current through each tip which is .engaged by a base, and means comprising a timing device which is repeatedly actuated during each cycle of operation of said first-named means for completing said circuit for a predetermined interval of each period when each tip is engaged by a base. k

,9. In apparatus for tipping metal bases with metal tips, a plurality of tip holders, base holders individual to said tip holders and each operative between a loading position and a tipping position wherein a base held thereby is positioned to engage a tip held by the associated tip holder, means for successively operating said base hold- .ers into their tipping positions, switches indi-' vidual to said base holders and each operated in response to movement of the associated base holder into its tipping position, means for passing welding current through each base when it is moved to engage a tip held by one of said tip holders, and means comprising a timing device common to said holders and sequentially controlled by said switches for limiting the duration of each welding period to a fixed time interval.

10. In apparatus for tipping metal bases with metal tips, a plurality of tip holders, base holders individual to said tip holders and each operative between a loading position and a tipping position .wherein a base held thereby-is positioned to engage a tip held by the associated tip holder, means for successively operating said base holders into their tipping positions, switches individual to said base holders and each operated in response to movement of the associated base holder into its tipping position, a welding circuit common to said holders and operative to pass current through each base when it is moved to engage a tipheld by one of said tip holders, and means comprising a timing device common to said holders and sequentially controlled by said switches for limiting the duration of each welding period to a fixed time interval. A

11. In apparatus for tipping metal bases with metal tips, a plurality of tip holders, base holders individual to said tip holders and each operative between a tipping position and a loading position wherein a base held thereby is positioned to en- 'gage a tip held by the associated tip holder, means metal tips, a plurality of tip holders, base holders each period of engagement therebetween, means individual to said tip holders and each operative between a tipping position and a loading position wherein a base held thereby is positioned to engage a tip held by the associated tip holder, means for. driving said base holders, a welding circuit common to said holders, means comprising a timing device common to said holders and controlled in accordance with the movement of said base holders for closing said circuit for a fixed interval of each period when one of said base holders occupies its tipping position, means for selectively arresting the operation of said base holders, and means for preventing the operation of any base holder from being arrested whileit occupies its tipping position. I

' 13. In apparatus for tipping metal bases with metal tips, a plurality of tipping machines each including a base holder and a tip holder, means for operating said holders so the tips and bases respectively held thereby are successively moved into engagement, and means comprising a timing device common to said holders and successively actuated by the different machines for passing welding current through the successively engaged tips and nibs for a predetermined interval of each period of engagement therebetween.

14. In apparatus for tipping metal bases with metal tips, a plurality of tipping machines each including a tip holder and a base holder, driving apparatus common to said machines and including means for operating said holders so that the tipsand bases held by the holders of the different machines are successively moved into engagement, and disengaging means for selectively cutting any one of said machines out of service without disturbing the operation of the other machines.

15. In apparatus for tipping metal bases with metal tips, a plurality of tipping machines each including'a tipholder and a base holder, driving apparatus common to said machines and including means for operating said holders so that the tips and bases held by the holders of the difierent machines aresuccessively moved into engagement, a welding circuit common to said machines, means including said circuit for passing welding current through the'successively engaged tips and nibs for a predetermined interval of for selectively arresting the operation of said machines, and means for preventing the operation of any machine from being arrested when the holders thereof are relatively positioned to permit engagement between a tip and a nib respectively held thereby.

. OTIO JENDRESEN. 

